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The Alabama Initiative for Independent Journalism
Dining-ham: Birmingham Rebrands as Foodie Haven
This year marked a rare occurrence. No metro Birmingham chef or restaurant made the finalist list for a James Beard Award, the most prestigious plaudits in the American food-service industry. Local chefs and eateries have earned nominations or won outright in 22 of the past 27 Beard Awards, led by...
Birmingham Police Receive $4.2M Grant for Crime Center
The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved a $4.2 million federal grant to help fund the police department’s Real Time Crime Center. “I just wanted to thank our federal partners, specifically Senator (Katie) Britt, for helping the city get this,” said Councilor Hunter Williams. “When we look at the amount of grants that the city of Birmingham has gotten over the past several years, I think it speaks to the partnership among the 10 of us and that we are working with our federal partners. It’s something that’s different that we have not seen in the city of Birmingham probably in our lifetime. … We’ve really been able to multiply the money we’ve gotten from the federal government.”
Wait a Minute: JeffCo Commission Recesses, Immediately Reconvenes and Increases Employee COLA to 3.5%
Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens routinely concludes meetings of that body by saying they are “recessed until further notice.”. Notice came quickly today as the panel immediately reconvened to make official its actions relative to the 2024-2025 budget, which now includes a 3.5% raise for county employees but does not include an extra variable off day the commission had discussed Tuesday.
What a Difference a Day Makes: JeffCo Commission sends 2024-25 Budget to Thursday’s Agenda With Variable Day for Employees
On a 3-0-2 vote, the Jefferson County Commission sent the 2024-25 budget to the agenda of Thursday’s commission meeting. Included in that budget is one variable off day for each county employee. Finance Committee Chairman Joe Knight, along with commissioners Lashunda Scales and Sheila Tyson, voted in favor of...
Birmingham Council Revokes Licenses for LGBTQ Club, Citing Major Security Concerns
The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday revoked all city licenses associated with a longstanding LGBTQ club after hearing safety concerns from police and neighboring businesses. “You all do not deserve to be open,” Councilor J.T. Moore said to the owner of The Quest Club Inc. and his representatives before Tuesday’s...
And Then There Were None: Jefferson County Released From Sewer Consent Decree
A federal judge on Thursday released Jefferson County from a decades-long consent decree ordering rehabilitation of its sewer system. The County Commission and the Cahaba River Society, which filed the case forcing the sewer work, filed a joint request to terminate the 1996 consent decree, which also included the Environmental Protection Agency.
You’ve Gotta Have Heart: Birmingham Council Approves $1.7M to Address Nonemergency Incidents With ‘Unhoused Neighbors’
Beginning in 2025, Birmingham will have “Heart” to address nonemergency episodes involving its homeless population. The Birmingham City Council this week approved spending more than $1.7 million for Urban Alchemy to operate Heart Birmingham. “We operate a program called Heart that connects to emergency response numbers like 911...
Councilor Tate Kicks Off Reelection Campaign, Answers Questions About City Email Use
Birmingham City Councilor LaTonya Tate on Tuesday kicked off her reelection campaign at a north Birmingham events center, saying she still had work to do. “I just want to thank each and every one of you guys for supporting me because I’m not going to do anything that I’m not asking you all to do,” Tate told the crowd of about 20 people gathered at the Avery’s Event Center on 27th Street North. “One thing I’ve done very well is I’ve stood on the people’s business. So, one of the things I’m very adamant about is public safety, number one, and making sure that I go out and get those resources and drive those resources back into the community.”
BW’s Natta Named to Leadership Birmingham
André Natta, executive director of the Alabama Initiative for Independent Journalism, which publishes BirminghamWatch, has been named to Leadership Birmingham’s Class of 2025. Natta is among 59 leaders who will serve in this class from a broad swath of sectors —including business, finance, government, religion, education, law, arts,...
Jefferson County Considering Big Picture in Zoning Review
Developers looking to add garden homes to the Jefferson County real estate landscape have often faced a road to futility. Perhaps change is on the way as the Development Services Department and others look to revamp rules and guidelines for such rezonings. After a brisk agenda Thursday, Commission President Jimmie...
Vasa Announces Run for Birmingham Council’s District 3, Kick-Starts Municipal Election Season 2025
One day short of a year before the municipal election, Josh Vasa on Tuesday announced his campaign to seek the District 3 seat on the Birmingham City Council. A crowd that appeared to fill the Clubhouse on Highland wore campaign buttons and T-shirts. They seemed eager to start shaking hands and knocking on doors.
Car Wash Moratorium Doesn’t Apply to Ongoing Crestwood Boulevard Project, Council Decides
The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday decided that a group building a car wash on Crestwood Boulevard has gotten far enough along in the project that a recent moratorium on such businesses won’t apply to them. “We’re confident it will be a great addition to the city of Birmingham,”...
Hannity Got Bashed so It’s Only Fair to Bash the Liberal Ones, Too
For several semesters, Fox News talk show host Sean Hannity was a featured PowerPoint slide in my lectures on media ethics and conflicts of interest — specifically, his speaking at a Donald Trump campaign rally in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in November 2018. If you work in the news media,...
Commissary Kitchen Planned for Woodlawn to Boost New Food Businesses, Community
Eugene’s Hot Chicken owner Zebbie Carney said his plan to open a commissary kitchen in Woodlawn will fill a desperate need for the metro area’s growing number of food trucks and other culinary entrepreneurs. “All the business owners I talk to say we don’t have adequate commissary kitchen...
Birmingham Council Earmarks $200K in Opioid Funds for Drug Nuisance Abatement Program
The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday voted to put more than $200,000 of opioid settlement money toward pursuing civil penalties and nuisance abatement measures for homes involved in drug activity. City staff told the council that the $256,379 came from one of the three settlements with pharmaceutical providers who’ve contributed...
Birmingham Council Sets Hearing on Whether to Revoke Quest Business License
Birmingham leaders next month will discuss revoking the business license of The Quest Club Inc., a private 24-hour nightclub that was the scene of a May shooting in which two men died. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to set the public hearing for Sept. 10 at 9:30 a.m. during...
This Time, Media Have Actually Done Some Good Work on Trump
Donald Trump came out of hiding last week for a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago home, and the performance of the press triggered a wave of media criticism the likes of which I haven’t seen in a long time. A livid Lawrence O’Donnell spent 20 minutes of his MSNBC...
Birmingham Council Approves Zoning for Car Condo Near Barber
The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved a zoning change that will allow a developer to build a 105-unit car condominium near Barber Motorsports Park and Museum. Ray Roll, director of development for Torque Motor Suites, told the council that the proposed development would provide collectors of high-end automobiles a place to store their vehicles.
Finally! JeffCo Awards Bid to Build Animal Care and Control Facility
Allison Black Cornelius says there are few things that will keep her from talking. A rush of emotion is at the top of the list. “That would be it,” the president and chief executive officer at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society said. “If I cry and talk at the same time, it’s not pretty to watch.”
Birmingham Council Extends Car Wash Moratorium into December
The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved a 90-day extension of a moratorium on automated car wash businesses. The measure will now be in effect until Dec. 8. “My concern with all of this has always been focused on our residents. They are my main concern with the trend we’ve seen of these businesses opening in close proximity to their homes,” Council President Pro Tem Wardine Alexander said. “Under our current zoning, these businesses were allowed to open in these areas. I don’t think it’s something people really anticipated being a problem when these laws were put in place. But what we are trying to do now is fix that and ensure these businesses only operate in areas that do not pose a problem to residents or pedestrians.”
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